I am from Saint Paul, Minnesota (born and raised) and still live in the Summit/University neighborhood. I love the area and can’t imagine living anywhere else.
I have been woodworking since my teenage years starting out by building speaker boxes for many of my friends. Over the following years I cultivated enough skill to try my hand at furniture. My first piece was an Arts and Crafts style night stand I made for my sister. At that point I was certain that I was going to devote my work to the Arts and Crafts style. Over the following 20 years I have designed and constructed couches, chairs, beds, night stands, dining room tables, wardrobes, entertainment stands, etc. When working on a project, there is nothing else like it. I enjoy every minute from the initial design phase to the final product! I have often found myself building a new piece of furniture just to be in the shop exercising my creativity and innovation.
In the last few years I have developed a passion for Mid-Century Modern furniture. I love the clean lines and simplicity of the design. One piece in particular I am really proud of is the Spanish cedar lounge chair (feature photo in the chair section). With that project, the design evolved through construction. I used no plans or drawings. This method of working, in my opinion, is the most creative way to build furniture. I think that chair represents the culmination of all of my work of the prior 15 years. Everything came together flawlessly on that project.
In addition to furniture I also have 16 years of experience in the cabinet making industry. I have worked for three local custom cabinetry shops adding countless projects to my total woodworking portfolio. During my tenure between the three shops I gained valuable experience working with customers on creation, construction, delivery and installation.
Hands down, the best part of my job is witnessing the client’s reaction to seeing their product for the first time. It represents the realization of all the creativity, passion and hard work in that moment. It is truly a great experience.
Education:
Saint Paul College - Cabinetmaking Degree
“He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”
